About

I like to travel, and have been fortunate to work for companies that have sent me to interesting places.

I have been to about 28 countries and have visited all 7 continents, but have only visited 44 States. Sorry Hawaii, Montana, North Dakota, West Virginia, Alabama and Mississippi. I will visit you someday.

I have a bachelors degree in Electronic Engineering and a Masters of Adult Education and Training. I put my skills to use by training service engineers how to repair medical equipment.

I like to read, and have a small library at home.

I like food, especially trying something new or different. I will probably share a few of my thoughts about food along with some pictures as I wander through the blogging experience.

I also like History and researching my family tree.

I am a descendant of some notable Colonial Americans.

Roger Williams (Founder of Rhode Island)

Abraham Pietersen Vandeursen (New Amsterdam)

George Soule (Mayflower Passenger)

Jacob Hochstedler (Amish – Northkill Raid)

Joseph Jenks (First Patent in America)

William Almy (Early Rhode Island)

Zachariah Rhodes (Early Rhode Island)

William Arnold (Early Rhode Island)

John Greene (Early Rhode Island)

Henry Woodward (Ancestor of Princess Diana)

Elder John Crandall (Baptist Minister)

You will see several posts about my adventures in Genealogy. Find out how my family wandered around and how they connected together in just the right places.

Steven

In February of 2010 I took a cruise to Antarctica along with my Sister to celebrate my Masters degree. We had a lot of fun and took a lot of pictures.

Steven, While looking for information on Religion in Genealogy came across your blog. I am with a Genealogy Club in Little Rock Arkansas. I want to gear our Guest Speakers around Monthly Observances that are centered around Genealogy. October is Clergy Appreciation Month. In your many travels, do you know of someone in the Little Rock area that I could possibly contact to give us a History Lesson of such on Religion in families and how it shaped who they were and we are today. I think it would be a very interesting topic and not one that they have had before.
The organization I am with is – The Heritage Seekers Genealogy Club, Little Rock, AR. I am the incoming 1st Vice President and I want to have some new and interesting speakers for our meetings.
I look forward to a reply. I have really enjoyed reading on your Genealogy and Family History pages!

Denise, unfortunately I do not know of anyone in the Little Rock area that would be able to do this. However, I believe that it is a wonderful idea. It would be an interesting topic and one I know I would enjoy. I would recommend contacting the History department at one of your local universities.

Denise,
you might also check your area for a seminary or divinity college. I believe most of them require course work of this type from all their students (regardless of church affiliation).
Here in Indy we have the Christian Theological Seminary and their library is also a great info source on all churches and their practices / histories

We must be cousins. I just found your post about Joseph Jenks’ (my 9th great-grandfather) iron works when googling for information about it. I’m from Wisconsin but will be in Boston this weekend. Is it worth going to see?

Dear Steven: I was searching the internet for Coleman Junction Robbery, when your article about L.L. White and his part in the robbery came up. I must say that I may be a distant relative of one of the robbers that definitely was on the other side. The four robbers were Pearce Keaton, Bud Newman, Jeff and Bill Taylor. I have been researching the attempted robbery trying to determine if my grandfather’s step aunt was married to William ‘Bill’ Taylor from Crockett Co. TX. The robbery didn’t end there. Bill escaped from jail three if not four times and killed Bud Newman before he finally went to prison. Bill served only 6.5 years for the whole catastrophy, got out in 1907 lived with his wife & family until about 1915 then disappeared from the earth never to be heard of again. It is a very interesting story……………….Sam

Hello newest Spikey! I know, a bit corny, eh, but that’s the term that has come to stick for those folk who are part of the clan known to be followers of Uncle Spike 🙂 But still it seems weird as you hardly seem ‘new’, in that I have already enjoyed following your posts from your trip around Türkiye

Thank you anyway… I really appreciate that as I for one, know how many interesting and entertaining blogs are out there.

My aim is to deliver an eclectic offering of posts, from my ‘point n shoot’ attempts at basic photography, to the sharing of my travel adventures over the decades, as well as day to day happenings here on the farm. Oh, plus a few observations on life as I see it, thrown in for good measure.

My promise to you is not to be overbearing, just a couple of posts a day, maybe 3 at weekends if I have something special to share. But if you are at a loose end one day, maybe you’ll enjoy trawling through some of my older stuff too. I have added plenty of categories to help in said digging process.

Hi Steven,
I came across your fascinating blog while doing a little genealogy research. It seems that we share an interest in travels, history and genealogy, as well as a great number of Swiss Anabaptist ancestors (I, too, am descended from Jonas Kauffman and was raised a few miles from the Needy area.) I am looking forward to your future posts!
Best wishes,
Jake

Thank you for providing such a wonderful online resource, bramanswanderings.com, for people to have access to.

I am writing a book, “Joshua, A Look into the Life of Joshua, Son of Nun, A Mighty Man of God”, for my son Joshua. I started writing a short paper for him for a birthday present so he would know more about the person he was named after, but it has turned into a short book. I do not know how God will use this, but initially I want to get it printed for my son and my family.
May I have permission to use the following photo with description?

The picture is located under the article “Achor and Ai” posted Dec 23, 2012. It is the first picture in that article and the description (your quote) is below:

“Early writers thought that the valley was north of Jericho, but Joshua 15:7 describes it as part of the border between Judah and Benjamin which would put it south of Jericho. The Hyrcania Valley or El-Buqei’a is probably too far south. In the picture to the left, taken from Jericho (Tell es-Sultan), we see the entrance to a deep valley in the hills. This is Wadi al-Qelt which originates near Jerusalem. I also like this picture as it shows the outlines of the foundations of several buildings in Jericho. Achan would have taken the items from a building in Jericho and then met his demise within site of his crime.” https://bramanswanderings.wordpress.com/tag/valley-of-achor/ Posted by vanbraman

I would like to use the picture and the description.
I will definitely put the URL link under the photo with your name on it. Thank you for your consideration. May God richly bless you!
Cyndee